Computing Science

What is Computing?
Take a look at the world around you. How close to a computer are you? When was the last time you used one? Life without computers is almost unimaginable. The power of computers is utilised in all areas of life, from medicine to space exploration.

What is Computing?
Take a look at the world around you. How close to a computer are you? When was the last time you used one? Life without computers is almost unimaginable. The power of computers is utilised in all areas of life, from medicine to space exploration.

“Everybody in this country should learn how to program a computer… because it teaches you how to think”. Steve Jobs (Apple Co-founder)

By studying this highly valued EBac subject you will develop the skills and knowledge to give you that competitive advantage in any future career. You will develop computational thinking skills such as analysis, decomposition, logic and algorithmic thinking.

“Computational thinking will be a fundamental skill used by everyone by the middle of the 21st Century. Just like reading, writing and arithmetic”. Wing (2011)

What will you learn?

Computing is an intellectually challenging yet very practical and rewarding subject. It is an intensely creative subject where you can apply the knowledge and skills learned in the classroom in exciting and inventive ways.

This will not only enable you to build on your skills in preparation for Key Stage 4 but also make you more aware of computers in society around us and how many times you interact with them perhaps without even knowing.

Computer Science is at the centre of a STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Maths) education. Studying this subject will give you a real advantage in today’s technology driven world. You will make the leap from using other people’s software to being able to design and create your own. Maybe you could invent the next Facebook or Snap Chat? GCSE Computer Science will give you the skills to become a Technology Entrepreneur…but even more than this, it will give you the skills you need for any career because Computer Science teaches you how to think.

Course Requirements

All students choosing Computer Science must have a minimum level 6 in Maths on computers and their software The ability to work independently and in groups to achieve results and not give up in the face of a challenge Someone who wants to work in the highly lucrative IT industry

ICT OCR Cambridge Nationals

Why choose the vocational course?

Learn key ICT skills

The course is still engaging and fun, but is more focused on practical use of ICT software and features.

The course has a one hour exam that is worth 25% of the overall grade

Coursework is worth 75% of the overall grade

Equivalent GCSE grade

The course offers a wide range of topics

You will learn a number of broad skills that are vital in all business industries as well as more specific ones for the highly sought after ICT sector.

The course requires a keen interest in the world of technology and the ability to make your own decisions and work independently. The work revolves around a number of real life scenarios and puts you into situations where you must use what you have learnt in class to achieve meaningful outcomes and use them to make accurate conclusions.

All Coursework will be completed in Year 10. Exam preparation will begin in Year 11.

Mandatoryunit

Assessment Type

R001

Understanding Computer Systems

1 hour written exam

R002

Using ICT to create business solutions

Course work

2 Optionalunits

R003

Handling data using spreadsheets

Course work

R004

Handling data using databases

Course work

R005

Creating an interactive product using multimedia components

Course work

R006

Creating digital images

Course work

R007

Creating dynamic products using sound and vision

Course work

R011

Understanding technology – a project approach

Course work

Waiting for clarification

At the core of our approach to marking at JRCS is task marking.

In non-practical subjects one substantial piece of work will be task marked at least once every eight hours of teaching. Students will respond to the tasks and they will be checked by staff. In between that time students’ work may be peer or self-assessed or briefly checked by staff.

It is likely the same piece of work will be assessed for literacy. Staff will mark work using the literacy marking code:

Sp

spelling mistake

P

punctuation mark missing or incorrectly used

Voc

incorrect use of vocabulary

^

word missed out of sentence

~

unclear meaning or grammar within a sentence

//

new paragraph required

CL

capital letter error

Levelling and Assessment

KS3

To develop a growth mindset and reflect ‘life after levels’ work in KS3 books will not usually be levelled; assessment will be formative and highlight how students can improve. Students will record areas of strength and development on their ‘reflection sheets’ which will be at the front or back of the book. At the end of each term a level is reported for students in each subject, which reflects all their work over that term. These are found on students’ pale yellow progress cards, which are stuck into their planners. These cards show students whether they are in line to meet their end of key stage target. With the move away from National Curriculum levels, the school is trialling a new ‘skills thermometer’ and 1 to 9 levelling in English. Other KS3 subjects will be using NC levels for the remainder of this year.

KS4

KS4 practice exam questions and mock exams are likely to be graded. This work might not be in student books. Students will record grades and areas of strength and development in their ‘reflection sheets’ which will be at the front or back of the book. All students receive an attainment and predicted grade at the end of each term. These are found on their pale yellow progress cards, which are stuck into their planners. These cards show students whether they are in line to meet their end of key stage target.

KS5

At KS5 students take a series of VIMAs (Sixth Form Milestone Assessments) during their course. Students receive developmental comments to help them improve their work. Each VIMA result includes four parts: the grade for that assessment, a comparison of the grade with their expected progress grade (EPG), a Learning Capability mark and a prediction of their end of year grade (PEG). The outcomes of these assessments and other graded work will be in student folders. They are also sent home to parents. A summary of VIMA marks and the students’ expected progress grade is also recorded in their planner.

Further information

Students will be set a homework task at least once a fortnight

Students must complete all tasks highlighted by their teachers in their books

All projects at Key Stage 3 will be partly assessed by an end of unit test

Voluntary intervention will be offered at Key Stage 3 and 4

Students who are behind will be set mandatory intervention

Student who engage in their work and show outstanding effort will be awarded a Letter of Commendation sent home to their parents